Table 3 Baseline characteristics of patients in the OPTICA trial compared to other multimorbid patients with polypharmacy in the FIRE database

Median age (IQR)

77 (73–83)

78 (72–84)

0.630

0.053

Sex

 Women (%)

146 (45)

12′699 (55)

0.001

0.206

 Men (%)

177 (55)

10′207 (45)

Median number of chronic conditions (IQR)⁵

4 (3–6)

3 (3–5)

 < 0.001

0.422

Median number of medications in the last 12 months (IQR)⁶

6 (5–9)

7 (5–8)

 < 0.001

0.23

Health services use (in the last 12 months)

 Median number of consultations (IQR)

16 (10–25)

13 (7–22)

 < 0.001

0.216

 Median number of blood pressure measurements (IQR)

3 (2–5)

2 (1–4)

 < 0.001

0.276

 Median number of Body Mass Index measurements (IQR)

2 (1–3)

1 (1–3)

0.501

0.03

 Median number of HbA1c measurements (IQR)

2 (1–4)

2 (1–3)

0.001

0.24

 Median number of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurements (IQR)

2 (1–3)

1 (1–3)

 < 0.001

0.208

 Median number of lipid profile measurements (IQR)

1 (1–2)

1 (1–1)

0.166

0.093

Lab values & vital signs (in the last 12 months)

 Median systolic blood pressure (IQR)

138 (126–148)

138 (127–149)

0.541

0.023

 Median diastolic blood pressure (IQR)

76 (70–83)

79 (72–85)

0.005

0.154

 Median Body Mass Index (IQR)

29 (25–32)

28 (24–31)

0.235

0.101

 Median HbA1c (IQR)

6.3 (5.7–7)

6.1 (5.6–6.9)

0.023

0.1

 Median GFR (IQR)

66.2 (51.4–79.7)

68.3 (52.3–82.5)

0.314

0.041